Typewriting machine



June 3, 1941. J. A. B.'SMITH I 2,244,087 I TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec..30, ,1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Cb. H.)

d O! n r INVENTOR JESSE A.B.SM|TH ORNEY June 3, 1941.

J. A. B. SMITH 2,244,087

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Y JESSE A.B. SMITH BY I TI'ORNEY Patented June 3, 1941 TYPEWRITING MACHINE JesseA. B. Smith, Stamford,v Conn., assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of 'Delaware Application December 30, 193-8, Serial No. 248,489

Claims.

This invention relates to margin and tabulator stop mechanisms for typewriters and more particularly to devices for selecting certain groups of stops to produce typed matter having margins, date line, signature or other indentations, arranged in a prescribed manner.

In the typing of correspondence it is desirable to arrange the typed matter on the sheet with a view to symmetry and proportion so that the finished typing presents a neat appearance, with the typing arranged in a generally central position on the sheet and in proportion corre-, sponding to the length of the typed matter. For example, in a relatively short letter, a suitable length of the typed line and, correspondingly, the indentation for the date line and signature, may bevdetermined so that the body of the letter is narrowed in width by selecting a relatively short length for the typed line. Conversely, in a lengthy letter, the length of the typed line selected should be adequate to assure the typing of the letter in a central area on the sheet, in this instance choosing a greater line length and corresponding indentations to produce the desired arrangement of the typed matter on the sheet.

A mechanism affording such a selection of line lengths and tabular indents is shown and described in my Patent No. 2,131,150, issued September 27, 1938, wherein several groups of margin stops, and several groups of tabulator stops are each arranged on rotatable members and may be selectively disposed to coact with corresponding counter-stops upon rotation of the stop-carrying members to predetermine a certain line-length and corresponding indentations, as well as column-defining tabular positions when required. In'such devices, however, the operator must exercise some care in setting the stop mechanism to be certain that the desired group of stops is selected.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a selective stop-setting mechanism having a key operated selector device whereby the preselection of a. particular group of stops may be effected with dependable facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a margin-stop or tabulator-stop selecting device affording a selection of various prescribed stop set-ups on stop-carrying members, and presenting an array of selector keys, the operation of any key of which, preceding the actuation of the stop-carrying members, will assure the arrest of the desired group of stops in accurate position for cooperation with the counter-stops,

whereby the typist may be assured that the desired set of stops is in effective position and that the carriage will be stopped during the subsequent typing, at such line-length determining positions and/0r tabulating positions as are indicated by the particular selector key operated.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of the selective margin and tabulator-stop mechanism incorporating the stop selector device and forming the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken onthe plane of the axes of the stop-carrying members, certain of the parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of thestop selector device, portions thereof being broken away to facilitate illustration.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View through the typewriterat a fore-and-aft vertical plane thereof, showing the several mechanisms associated with the platen carriage controlling the movements thereof in typing.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the right end of the typewriter carriage showing the gearing of the stop-setting mechanism.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 2, and Figure 7 is a transverse enlarged sectional view taken on the line of Figure 2, portions of the carriage end plate being broken away to reveal the mechanism of the selector device.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 4, a platen, 3 is rotatably mounted on a carriage l0 arranged for en dwise movement transversely of the typewriter on trackways H. The platen carriage I0 is actuated during typing by the usual drum spring, not shown, this movement of the carriage being under control of the usual letter-feed mechanism l2, including a rockable member I3 cooperating with an escapement wheel l4 carried on a shaft having a gear l6 thereon in mesh with a rack ll fixed to the carriage frame Hi, all in the Well known manner. The return movement of the carriage I0 ismanually actuated, against the power of the mentioned spring.

The line-length determining positions of the carriage are controlled by the engagement of adjustable margin-stops 23 with a margin counter-stop 2|. The counter-stop 2| may move a limited distance leftward to the position shown in phantom in Figure 1, when engaged by a of the margin-stops serving to cam the counterstop rearwardly in passing same, after which the counter-stop 2| springs back to efiective position intermediate the margin stops.

The carriage may be arrested in other positions intermediate or beyond the line-length-de- V termining positions, by tabulator stops 22 cooperating with one of a series of tabulator blades or counter-stops 23 shown more clearly in Figure 4, in the usual manner, each of the tabulator blades having one of a series of keylevers 24 fulcrumed at 25, engaging the tabulator blade at its rear end, to move the blade into the path of a tabulator stop 22. A spring 26 for each tabulator blade 23 restores the blade to inefiective position upon release of the tabulator key-lever 24.

Each tabulator blade 23 has a partengageable with a swingable cross-bar 21 having an arm 28 connected by a link 29 with the letter-feed mechanism l2. As any one of the tabulator blades 23 is moved to effective position, the,

resultant swinging of the cross-bar 21 causes the letter feed mechanism to momentarily free the escapement wheel l4 and thus release the carriage it to the power of the mentioned carriage actuating spring, the carriage moving until same is checked by the engagement of one of the tabulator stops 22 with the efiective tabulator blade 23, all in the well known manner. As'afore indicated, the carriage control mechanism provides a selection of different groups of line-length-determining stops .28 which, as shown more clearly in Figure 1, are arranged in pairs, each stop being adjustably carried on a rotatable member or multifaced rack bar 3|]. It is to be noted that the respective pairs of stops 20 representing different line lengths are each .carried on a diii'erent face of the rack bar 30, so that each pair of stops projects from the rack bar. 36 at an angle different from the other pairs of stops. The rack bar 30 is' rotatably mounted, preferably in the end plates of the carriage HI, so that by rota-' tion of the rack bar, any one pair of stops may be selectively disposed for cooperation with the counter-stop 2|, the effective pair of stops being.

thus disposed to project rearwardly from the rack bar 3!! in the path of the counter-stop 2|,

The stops of each group or pair carried on the rack bars 30, 3| may be arranged in any desired position endwise on the rack bars in that each stop is formed so as to be releasably held in the peripheral grooves of the rack bar. Thus, the stops 2! of each pair on the rack bar 30 may be adjusted relatively to each other to represent a certain line length and margins as required for correspondence of a certain length, and likewise, the stops of each group on rack bar 3| may be adjusted relatively to each other for a prescribed relation of line indentations, or a certain order of tabulating positions required.

.It may be here noted-that each pair of margin stops 2|! is coupled with a certain group of tabulator stops by a system of gearing 33 operatively connecting the two stop-carrying members 30, 3|, by which the selection of a certain pair of line-length-determining stops 20 will bring a corresponding group of tabulator or indent-determining stops 22 into eifective position. The system of gearing 33 includes gears 34 and 35 fixed to the respective rack bars 30, 3| and operatively connected by an intermediate gear 36 fixed to a control shaft 31 journaled in the carriage end plates as shown more clearly in Figure 2. A suitable actuating knob 38 is arranged to rotate the gearing 33 and therefore the rack bars 3| 3| and shaft 31, the knob 38 being fixed preferably to a projecting end of the rack bar 30. The gearing 33 may have a cover 39 enclosing same in conjunction with the carriage end plate and secured in position against the end plate by the screws shown.

The arrangement and operation of the sev- I eral mechanisms thus fardescribed are somewhat similar to that shown and described in my pair of line-l ength-determining stops for co,-.

operation with its counter-stop and the concomitant selection of a certain corresponding group of indent-defining tabulator stops for cooperation with the series of tabulator blades 23, this selection being made by actuating knob 38 to concomitantly rotate both rack bars 39, 3| to a position wherein the desired margin and tabulator stops are in condition for cooperation with their respective counter-stops. The rack bars 30, 3| are yieldably detented in each rotative position by a spring detent 40 mounted on the carriage end plate and yieldably coacting with the faces of the rack bar 39.

It is desirable to have the rotative position of the rack bars 30, 3| more positively determined, in a manner to relieve the operator from exercising particular care as to the extent to which the adjustably carried on a rotatable member or multifaced rack bar 3|. Each group of tabulator stops represents a certain tabular form. or certain line indentations as may be required for the date line, signature or like indented typing. Each group of tabulator stops is carried on a different face of the rack bar 3| so that each group projects from the rack bar 3| at a diiferent angle from each other group. The rack bar 3| is rotatably mounted, preferably in the end plates of the carriage l0 and arranged so that rotation of the rack bar will present any one group of tabulator stops for cooperation 1 with the series of tabulator blades 23.

knob 38 is rotated in selecting the desired stop set-up. This easy and positive manner of selectively setting the stops is efiected by the selector device shown more clearly in Figures 2, 3 and '7. This device includes a collar 43 carried on the control shaft 37 and adapted for limited rotation thereon, the shaft having a pin 44 fixed thereon a series of key stems 48 preferably arranged in lineal array or row, each being slidably carried in the carriage end plate and a casing 49' secured thereto. Complemental mounting blocks 50, 51 held together by screws 52, provide openings in which'the key-stems 48 move, The'blocks 50, i also provide a mounting for a key-interlocking device later described and are secured between the casing 49 and the carriage end plate. The casing 49 includes a cover portion 53 removable to facilitate assembly. Each key stem 48 carries at its outer end a key 54 having suitable indicia, such as the numerals shown, by which to identify the respective pairs of margin stops and the corresponding tabulator stops. Each key stem 48 is detented in depressed position by a spring-pressed ball 55 carried in the block 5| and engaging a depress-ion 56 in the key stem.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that upon operation of any one of the selector keys 54, the corresponding stop 41 of the series will be moved into the path of the lug 46 so that upon manual actuation of the knob 38, both stop bars 38, 3| will be arrested in a predetermined rotative position and the desired pair of margin stops and the desiredcgroup of tabulator. stops will be positively positioned for cooperation with their respective counter-stops. The limited idle rotation of collar 43 on shaft 3'! permits the rotation of knob 38 in either direction in eifecting the selection of the carriage stops, it being noted that this idle movement compensates for the combined thickness of the radial lug 4B and the indexing stop 41. That is, when pin 44 is against one end of the slot, the corresponding face of the lug 46 represents the exact radial stop line, for rotation of the shaft 3'! in one direction. When the direction of rotation of shaft 3'! is opposite, the other face of lug 46 is the eifective stop in contact with the opposite face of the indexing stop 41, with pin 44 against the other end of the slot 45; the limited rotation of the collar 43 on the shaft 3'! compensating for the thickness of the members 46, 41, so that the shaft 3'! is detented in the same radial position, no matter in which direction the shaft is rotated.

A key interlocking device cooperates with the key stems 48 to prevent depressing more than one key 54 at a time, and more particularly, to move an eifectively set stop 41, corresponding to the depressed key, to ineffective position, causing the depressed key to be restored to raised position. Each key stem 48 carries a pin 59 projecting laterally therefrom, each pin being disposed in the path of a series of displacement elements or blocks 69 slidably carried in the mounting blocks 50, 5| for movement longitudinally of the row of key stems 48. The corners of the blocks 60 adjacent the pins 59 are each beveled to provide cam sur faces for cooperation with the pins 59. It will be observed that the blocks 50 are confined within the mounting endwise so as to be capable of a limited endwise movement only, either individually or collectively, to the extent of a gap El between the end block 60 and a wall formed in the mounting. This gap may occur at either end of the series of blocks or at the abutment of the intermediate block with either end block.

The operation of the key interlocking device is more apparent in Figures 2 and 3 wherein key 1 is depressed and its indexing stop 41 is thus in effective position. The pin 59 associated with key 1 has cooperated with the bevel on the adjacent block 69 so that all blocks are displaced latother end, as shown It will be seen that this now, that key 2 is pressed, it will be seen that its pin 59, cooperating with the block bevel, wedges the end block 6!] endwise so that the opposite bevel thereof, acting on the pin 59 of key 1, causes said key to be raised. With key 2 depressed, the gap occurs between the end and intermediate blocks fill at that key. Assuming that while key 2 is depressed, key 4 issubsequently pressed, it will be seen that the two blocks between keys 2 and 4 are moved laterally to close the gap at key 2, the bevel of the intermediate block 60 coacting with the pin on key 2 to raise the said key. In that each stop 41 is carried on a key stem 48, operation of the keyinterlocking device comprising the blocks 60 causes the disabling of one stop 4i concomitantly with the movement of another stop 4'! into effective position.

Although in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the stop selector device is incorporated with a stop setting mechanism including two rotatable members, one carrying a series of pairs of line-length-determining stops and the other rotatable member carrying a plurality of groups of tabular or indent-defining stops, it will be understood that the stop selecting device may [be associated with only one or either of said stop carrying members, if desired. It may be here noted that while the rotative element upon which the stop selector device is directly effective, namely, lug 46 of collar 43, is carried on the control shaft 31, said lug may be regarded as having a positive association with either or both the stop carrying members 3!], 31. in view of the positive connection between the shaft 31 and the members 3! 3|, afforded by the system of gearing 33. Thus, the lug 4% cooperating with the indexing stops 4! may be considered as being arranged to rotate with either or both of the stop carrying members 3t, 3!.

Although in this application, there is specifically described, one embodiment which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that same is shown for the purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a selective carriage stop mechanism for typewriters having a stop bar rotatable to present different groups of carriage stops thereon to a counter-stop; means to control the rotative position of said stop bar comprising, a detent rotatable with said stop bar, an array of slidable key stems, one for each group of carriage stops, a manually engageable key carried on each of said stems, and an indexing stop mounted on each of said stems, normally out of the path of said detent, said stems being slidab-le to selectively present the corresponding indexing stops in the path of said detent.

2. In a selective carriage stop mechanism for typewriters, having a stop bar rotatable to present difierent groups of carriage stops thereon to a counterstop; means tocontrol the rotative position of said stop bar comprising, a detent normally rotatalble with said stop bar, an annular array of indexing stops arranged about the center of rotation of said detent, means movably mounting said indexing stops for setting same into the path of said detent, and means mounting said detent for limited rotation independently of said stop bar to lcompensate for the thickness of the effective indexing stop and said detent in rotating the stop bar in an opposite direction.

3. In a selective carriage stop mechanism for typewriters having a stop bar rotatable to present different groups of carriage stops thereon to a counterstop; means to control the rotative positions of said stop bar comprising, a detent rotatably mounted independently of said stop bar, driving connections between said stop bar and said detent for rotation in unison, an annular array of indexing stops about the center of rotation of said detent and normally out of the path thereof, and means slidably mounting said indexing stops for movement axially of said detent to selectively position said stops in the path of said detent.

4. In a selective carriage stop mechanism for typewriters having a stop bar rotatable to present different groups of carriage stops thereon to a counterstop; means to control the rotative position of said stop bar comprising, a detent rotatable with said stop bar, driving-connections between said stop bar and said detent for rotaadapted to be selectively positioned in the path of said detent.

'5. In a selective carriage stop mechanism havi ing a margin stop bar rotatable to present different groups of margin stops thereon to a coun-- terstop and a tabulator stop bar rotatable to present difierent groups of tabulator stops thereonto a counterstop; means to determine the rotative position of said stop bars comprising, a rotatable shaft axially parallel with said stop bars, driving means operatively 'connecting said stop bars and said shaft for rotation in unison, a detent on said shaft and rotatable therewith, an annular array of indexing stops disposed about the center of rotation of said detent, and a series of key stems carrying said indexing stops and slidably mounted for movement axially of said shaft to selectively position said stops in the path of said detent. V JESSE A. B. SMITH. 

